Fire extinguishing device



Dec. 26, 1950 J, c JR 2,535,311

FIRE EXTINGUISHING DEVICE Filed Jan. 12, 1948 awe/Mm Patented Dec. 26, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,535,311 I ma EXTINGUISHING DEVICE Joseph Henry McGann, Jr., Washington, D. 0.

Application January 12, 1948, Serial No. 1,677

3 Claims.

My invention relates primarily to a fire fighting device adapted to be used in conjunction with various types fire extinguishers well known in the art, to permit one to'eject the fire extinguishing gas or fiuid into an enclosed space without the necessity of the operator of" the extinguisher entering such space. Although obviously not confined thereto, my invention is particularly useful in solvin the fire fighting problems encountered in compartmented ships, where it is desirable to fill an enclosed space or compartment with a fire extinguishing fluid or gas while at the same time afiording fire fighting personnel the maximum of protection. In shipboard practice it i customary, in fighting fires, to seal or! the various compartments through the use of water-tight doors and watertight bulkheads. It is nearly always necessary that the compartment be directly reached by the fire fighting party and this often presents a severe complication when the fire assumes such proportions as to endanger the lives of those handling the necessary equipment. By my invention the extinguishing fluid, whether gas or liquid, can be emitted into a compartment containing the fire by using the extinguisher in an adjacent compartment and forcing the fluid through a bulkhead or wall in a manner hereinafter explained. By this means, personnel are removed from the danger incident toproximity to flames of any proportions, yet efiective extinction is made possible.

A further problem, encountered in fire prevention and control on board ship, is that no action can be taken in putting out the fire that will endanger the water-tight integrity of the vessel. In other words, permanent openings drilled through the bulkheads below the main deck sufiicient to permit ingress of a nozzle are generally not permitted since such openings would obviously have to be of such size as to permit the water from a fiooded compartment to fiow unrestrained into an adjacent compartment, thereby creating instability and possible flooding of the entire vessel. By the use of my device, an appropriate small aperture may be made throughout the various bulkheads in the ship, and the unit comprising my invention inserted, so that each compartment of the vessel may be reached by a fire extinguishing fluid without any danger, by reason of said Opening, of flooding the vessel. It is to be understood that my invention is not alone useful in fire prevention and control aboard ship but may be employed in various types of building structures 2 wherein compartmentation of the building unit presents an everpresent problem of ingress into the various compartments to fight fires which may become dangerous in any one of them, and where small openings can be made without reard to the integrity of the wall. In either instance, the fire fighting personnel has the intermediate wall as protection, with consequent comparative safety. 1

Accordingly, the main object of this invention is to provide a removable unit which may be inserted in the wall of a building structure or in a ships bulkhead and which, while maintaining the integrity oi. the said wall or bulkhead, enables one to efiectively flow a fire extinguishing fiuid therethrough for the purposes aforesaid.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a device of the nature of that above-stated, which unit has simple connecting means with the extinguisher, and is adaptable to maintain the hose or nozzle of the said extinguisher in position against the bulkhead after the said nozzle has been inserted into the unit.

It is a further object of my invention to provide simple expedients, in this type of unit, which will prevent seepage oi fiuid through the unit at such times as the unit is not being employed for fire fighting purposes, such expedients being particularly advantageous when my invention is utilized aboard ship.

My invention may be better understood by reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 represents a transverse section of one embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is an end view of the nozzle shown in section in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a transverse section of the embodiment of the invention illustrating valve closure means.

Figure 4 is a transverse section of an embodiment oi the invention illustrating nipple looking means.

Figure 5 is a section similar to Figure 4 additionally illustrating the nipple locked in place.

Figure 6 is a transverse section of a modified locking means.

Figure 7 is a transverse section showing a variant form of locking means.

Figure 8 is a cross-section 01' Figure 7, taken upon the line 8-8 of the latter.

Figure 9 is a detail view of a variant of the locking means in Figures 7 and 8.

Referring to Figure 1, the wall structure, generally indicated at I, may be either a single, solid piece, or multiple, as shown in the drawing. The unit itself comprises a circular piece 2 having an overlapping end structure 3. The opposite end is threaded as indicated at 4, the threads serving to accommodate a nut in the position shown. The main body of the unit has a passageway 5 throughout its length and at one end thereof, in the head 3, suitable holes or bores I are disposed circularly about the head 3 and interconnected with the longitudinal passageway 5.

Interiorly of the threaded portion 4, and adjacent passageway 6, the element 2 is preferably dished as shown at 8 in such a manner as to form a concavity adapted to receive the nipple of a common variety of hand fire extinguisher l0. Of course, the nut head 5 is provided with a suitable hole or opening 9 of the same diameter as the widest portion of the dished end or concavity 8. The fire extinguisher illustrated is of the carbon tetrachloride type and has a simple nozzle outlet II, and is provided with the usual Opening [2 to permit emission of the extinguishing fluid.

The location of the bores 1 and their interconnection with the passageway 6 are more particularly illustrated in Figure 2. These are disposed circularly about the passageway 5, converging into the latter, and are preferably of smaller diameter, in order to break the fluid into fine particles of fog or spray, distributing the same widely about the adjacent area.

In Figure 3 I have shown an alternative form of my invention, the tubular body of the element 2 being provided with a spring ball valve so devised as to prevent the flow of fluid through the passageway 6 at any time except when the invention is being used in conjunction with fire fighting equipment. In this modificat on, the retaining head I5 is shown as being semi-circular in shape. The tubular body is provided with threads H5 at its opposite end adapted to receive a securing nut |1, provided for the obvious purpose of securing the device in place in a wall structure. The head I5 is provided with bores l8 as already explained. A passageway l9 extends throughout substantially the entire length of the tubular body, but is narrowed at the end adjacent the threaded portion as indicated at 20. The narrowed portion 20 of passageway I9 is beveled at its inner end to provide a seat 2| adapted to receive a ball 22. The ball 22 is normally kept in place, firmly pressed against the seat 2|, by the use of a helical spring 23, the opposite end of which is seated upon a suitable projection 24 which is centrally located in the semi-circular head I5, and as here shown, being the apex of the conical formation of the angularly disposed bores l8. The smaller passageway 20 opens into a mouth 25, angularly faced, as to adapt said face to snug reception of an extinguisher nozzle. The nut I! is similarly provided with an opening 26 of approximately the same diameter as the widest diameter of the face 25. From the foregoing it is apparent that this embodiment discloses a fixture of the type I have generally referred to, which fixture, by means of a simple one way ball valve, is adapted to prevent the flow of fluids through the device except when the same is used in conjunction with fire extinguishers, the fluids thereof having sufficient force or pressure to compress the spring 23, remove the ball 22 from its seat 2|, and permit the flow of the fluid through passageway 20 and 2|, and ultimately in spray form through the rela- ,til punctured by the extinguisher noz le.

tively small bores I8. Since provision is made for the prevention of seepage of liquid or gas through the tubular element during periods of non-use, this embodiment of my invention is particularly useful aboard ship, where it may be installed as a permanent fixture in bulkheads below or above the water line of the vessel without fear of endangering the water-tight integrity of the vessel.

Another modification of my invention has been found particularly suitable for maintaining the extinguisher nozzle in position after it has once been inserted for use in the unit, as well as rendering the tubular member impervious to fluids during periods of non-use. By reference to Figure 4 illustrating a carbon dioxide conical type ejector it will be seen that I have provided approximately the same type of tubular element 29, one end of which is enlarged as at 30 to form a head or boss, serving the same purpos of retention of the unit in a wall structure as aforesaid. The opposite end of the member 29 is threaded as at 3|, to receive the usual retaining nut 33. In this modification, the unit is still designed to perform the functions of a spray nozzle but the nozzle effect is obtained by an inner conical bore 32, which is large at its outer extremity as compared with its inner end containing the extinguisher nozzle engaging means. This means comprises an inner peripheral lip or ridge 35, formed immediately adjacent the said groove 34. A shelf or flange in the nature of a circular concavity 36 is formed immediately adjacent to the said ridge 35 and is of such size as to conveniently receive in snug relationship, the extinguisher nozzle 38. Intermediate between the main body of the unit, 29, and the nut 33, I have provided a relatively thin, circular, imperforate piece of metal. This member 31 is preferably fabricated from such metals as soft lead. babbitt, or analogous materials, and can be made of such thickness that although impervious to some pressure, the amount of pressure necessary to rupture the same and permit ingress of the extinguisher nozzle can be applied manually. The latter is generally indicated at 38 and is provided with the usual relatively small opening 39 to permit emission of the extinguishing fluid. The extremity of the extinguisher nozzle is formed with a bulbous nipple 40, having adjacent thereto a peripheral groove M. It should be noted that the bulbous portion 40 0f the extinguisher nozzle should be slightly less in diameter than the internal diameter of flange 35, to accommodate the thickness of the metal of membrane 31, when the latter is ruptured, as hereinafter explained. It is, of course, obvious that the usual opening 42 must be made in the nut 33 to receive the nozzle end 38. In Figure 4 the tubular element is shown clamped into position in a wall structure. The metallic membrane 31 prevents communication through the wall, un- Accidental perforation of the membrane 31 is prevented by the protective circular wall 42 of nut 33. In using the unit for the purposes described, a container holding an extinguishing fluid and provided with a nozzle of the type illustrated, may be placed into operation upon one side of the wall or bulkhead to effectively spray the fluid into the compartment on the other side. This is simply accomplished by the mere ex rtion of manual pressure against the partition 31, by the extinguisher nozzle. This pressure will rupture the metallic insert, forcing the same into the contours of the groove and ridge, 34 and 35 respectively; and the nozzle tightly maintained in position by the consequent assaau afterinsertionwillbe pressure and sq eezing effect of the metal forcing the imperforate membrane against the extinguisher nozzle, the metal aligning the conformities of. the aforesaid groove as indicated in 81a. In this position the nozzle 38 may be left unattended and the device will continue to function until the supply of extinguishing fluid is exhausted. Replacement of the metallic membrane 31 after use is easily accomplished by the removal of the nut 88- and the positioning, as in Figure 4, of a new circular imperforate piece of material. In this way ease of access from one compartment to another for flre fighting purposes is assured. while at the same time there is "no danger of leakage between compartments when the invention is not being employed for the described purposes.

In certain'cases it may be. desirable to employ such media as forms a part of my invention, as that illustrated in Figure 6. Here the combination fluid venting and nozzle locking means comprises the element 44 having a longitudinal pmsageway therethrough. The member 44 is provided at one end with the usual flange or boss 45, and at the opposite extremity with a retaining nut 46. The nozzle effect is obtained by a conical bore 41 within the member 44 which, as shown, is of greater diameter at its outer extremity than at the inner end thereof. At the extremity opposite the bore 41 is provided a centrally located circular passageway 48 adapted to receive the nozzle flxture. The inner extremity of conical bore 41 is of smaller diameter than that of passageway 48 and consequently a shoulder 49 is formed as indicated. Two opposite longitudinal grooves 50 and Si are provided in the wall of passageway 68, each of these grooves terminating in spiral recesses 52 and 53 respectively, such recesses having a screw effect and continuing around the periphery of passageway 48 for approximately one-quarter of the circumference thereof. One end of tubular element 44 is of course provided with the usual screw threads 54 adapted to receive the aforesaid nut 46. The extinguisher nozzle adapted to be employed with the fixture just described is generally indicated at 55. and is formed of an end nipple 56 of a diameter of such size as to snugly fit within the passageway 68. The nipple shown is provided with opposed prongs or screw type projections 51 and 58. the purpose of which will now be described. When it is desired to use the unit here illustrated in the manner, and for the purposes discussed, the extinguisher nonle 55 is fitted into the passageway 48 with the two prongs 51 and 58 at the same time being inserted into the complementary slots 58 and When the nozzle is pushed as far as it will go, it is then given a quarter turn, to the right, the aforesaid prongs thereby engaging slots 52 and 53 seating the nozzle firmly and tightly against flange 49. After insertion and twisting or turning the nozzle as described, the latter may be left in position until exhaustion of the extinguisher fluid or gas, or until replacement of the extinguisher is desired. The screw effect is sufficient to maintain the nozzle in position with great force and to insure its staying in position while the force of the extinguishing fluid or gas is emitted through the conical opening I! on the opposite side of the wall structure. It is apparent that this mode of maintaining the extinguisher nozzle in place can be utilized with great effect for the reception of nut 63.

in conjunction with the other examples illustrating my invention and, for instance, would be extremely suitable for ailixing high pressure units to the examples shown in Figures 3 and 4 hereof.

In many instances it may be desirable to use the alternative structure I have illustrated in Figures 7, 8 and 9 wherein a locking mechanism of simple design is employed to maintain the extinguishing nozzle in place during the period of operation. The unit here shown, consisting of the tubular element 68, is formed with the usual boss or flange 6|, at one end, and the opposite end is provided, as before, with screw threads The continuous passageway through the tubular member 88 is formed by the intersection of two conical bores 84 and 85, which bores are permitted to meet at, roughly, the center of element 68, with the smaller diameters of the bores at the center, and the wider extremities of the bores opening into the end flanges 6| and 63 respectively. At the said intersection of the conical bores a peripheral groove 66 is provided immediately adjacent an inner peripheral fiange 61. The groove 68 is adapted to receive a locking device in the form of a circular element comprising a wire 68 formed with intermittent external projections 69. the latter being adapted to be received in the aforesaid groove 66. The locking means 68 is designed to maintain in position the type of extinguisher nozzle illustrated in Figure '7 at 18. This nozzle consists of a conical end piece ll having therein a groove 12 which provides in turn a flange 13. The nozzle of course, is accompanied by the usual type of transverse discharge opening 15. The locking ring 68 is preferably made of a metal having spring-like or resilient qualities in order that the nozzle end 1| may be forced into the ring 68, and past projections 88, to a point where the latter will slip over the flange 13, the projections 68 thereby fitting snugly against the ridge i3 hereinbefore described. As shown in Figure 7 the extinguisher nozzle is illustrated in the position just described, being maintained in that position by encirclement of groove 12 by the resilient metal ring 68. An alternative and reverse form of locking ring is illustrated in Figure 9. Here the ring is made of a circular piece of metal 88 having four projections 8|. The greater portion of the ring will rest in the groove 66, the projections 8| extending out of the groove sufficiently to engage the flange 13 of the nozzle end when the latter is forced into position as described. The ring may also be non-continuous, in other words, its circumference being severed as at 82, so as to facilitate its contraction and thereby enable its insertion and removal from the unit when replacement is necessary. as when the ring is damaged by withdrawal of the nozzle l3 from the unit.

The structure I have just described (Figure 7) is particularly adaptable for the insertion of nozzle 18 from either end. The conical bores 64 and may be of the same size. or of such size that nozzle 18 may be inserted in either bore, for emission of the extinguisher fluid out of the opposite bore or vent. By utilizing the type of locking media I have referred to, such as that illustrated at .68 and 88, the same will be effective to engage, and maintain in position, nozzle 18, no matter from which side it is introduced. The inherent usefulness of such a structure is at once apparent, for it enables the optional use of an extinguisher upon either side of a wall structure, for effective spraying with extinguishing fiuid upon the opposite side thereof, only one wall unit being required.

From the foregoing it will be observed that I have devised a simple and durable type of fire fighting device which obviously fulfills a need for fire fighting purposes in the instance I have outlined. The invention is particularly useful not only in ship construction, to which I have referred, but also in almost any type of com partmented or enclosed area, such as furnace, baggage or storage rooms which due to their very nature and the crowded conditions often present in such spaces make access thereto extremely difilcult. It is to be understood that various features of the embodiments of my invention are interchangeable. For instance, the valve closure means illustrated in Figure 3 may be utilized in either of the modifications illustrated in Figures 1, 6 and 7. Also the type of vent desired to be employed may be used with any one variant of nozzle locking means. It is also to be understood that the construction of the same may be additionally varied without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a fire fighting device adapted for insertion in a wall structure, a body member having a longitudinal passageway therethrough provided with integral retaining means at one end thereof, removable retaining means at the opposie end thereof, a vent for the discharge of extinguisher fiuids, clamping means to maintain an extinguisher nozzle in place in said member,

' said nozzle having a bulbous nipple provided with a peripheral groove adjacent thereto, said clamping means comprising an imperforate membrane at one end of said passageway, said membrane being adapted to be ruptured by said nozzle upon the application of pressure thereto, said passageway having a peripheral ridge adapted to engage said membrane in said groove to maintain said nozzle in said passageway.

2. In a fire fighting device adapted for insertion in a wall structure, a transverse member having a longitudinal passageway therethrough, means for maintaining said member in position in said wall comprising flanges at either end thereof, of greater diameter than said member,

said passageway having nozzle means at one end thereof and being provided at the other end thereof with a receptacle adapted to receive the discharge end of a fire extinguisher, said member having a groove intermediate the ends of said passageway and a ridge on each side of said groove, said discharge end being provided with a bulbous nipple and a peripheral groove adjacent thereto, means for retaining said discharge end in said receptacle comprising a resilient removable ring provided with retaining projections mounted in said groove, said projections being adapted to interlock with said nipple and said groove.

3. In a fire fighting device adapted for insertion in a wall structure, a transverse member having a longitudinal passageway therethrough, means for maintaining said member in position in said wall comprising flanges at either end thereof, of greater diameter than said member, said passageway having a groove intermediate the ends thereof, a nozzle formation at one end of said passageway, means for receiving the discharge end of a fire extinguisher at the other end of said passageway, said discharge end being provided with a bulbous nipple and a peripheral groove adjacent thereto, means for maintaining said discharge end in said receptacle comprising clamping means operatively associated with said groove, said clamping means being adapted to interconnect with said nipple of said discharge end when said end is manually inserted in said receptacle.

JOSEPH HENRY McGANN, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 517,192 Prior Mar. 27, 1894 568,669 Ellsworth Sept. 29, 1896 738,503 Waters Sept. 8, 1903 1,616,974 Josephson Feb. 8, 1927 2,052,384 Conran Aug. 25, 1936 2,282,491 Mathisen May 12, 1942 2,440,452 Smith Apr. 27, 1948 

